Cities in Focus

New York: New York’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Department of Transportation are on a mission to make the Big Apple the “greatest, greenest big city in the world” by ramping up bicycle infrastructure across the city, introducing bus rapid transit to the Bronx, and pedestrianizing Times Square, among other bold transportation initiatives.

Los Angeles: For Los Angeles Metro, marketing isn’t just about increasing the bottom line. It’s about reducing traffic, cleaning the air and making people’s commutes in this auto-clogged city a bit less stressful. For more information, read EMBARQ’s post on http://www.wri.org/stories/2009/12/transit-agencies-need-invest-marketing-lesson-los-angeles

Washington DC: In 2008, Clear Channel Outdoor and the District Department of Transportation launched SmartBike DC, the first self-service public bike rental program of its kind in the United States. The pilot project included 120 bikes at 10 stations around the nation’s capital. For more information, read EMBARQ’s post on http://thecityfix.com/video-smartbike-dc-succeeds-and-expands/

Istanbul: With 64 million vehicles crossing it in 2005, the Bosphorus Bridge had become a major bottleneck for Istanbul commuters traveling between Europe and Asia. In March 2009, the historic mega-city unveiled the world’s first inter-continental bus rapid transit line — easing congestion, reducing travel times and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Arequipa: In 2009, Arequipa, Peru closed its most important commercial corridor to car traffic. The pedestrianization project is part of the city’s larger vision to modernize transit services, develop a bus rapid transit corridor, and build additional bicycling paths to improve mobility in the city’s historic downtown.

Mumbai: Recognizing the role that auto-rickshaws play in sustainable urban transport and meeting daily commute needs in Mumbai will go a long way in improving conditions for drivers, as well as passengers, and will result in social and environmental benefits for Indian cities, as a whole.

Indore: In 2005, EMBARQ began advising AICTSL (Atal Indore City Transportation Services Limited) on setting up a formal transit agency in the city of Indore. Over time the agency has grown from a fledgling organization with only basic public transportation experience, to a city-wide agency that includes over 250 buses in service, and plans for it’s first Bus Rapid Transit corridor.

EMBARQ continues to work with the city to improve and expand services to meet the needs of the people of Indore.

Ahmedabad Janmarg

Mexico DF: In 2002, EMBARQ founded CTS-México—a Mexican nongovernmental organization staffed with transport engineers, urban planners, and policy experts—and partnered with the Mexico City government to develop a bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor on a high-profile avenue running through the heart of the Mexican capital. The system has reduced emissions, improved mobility, and reduced travel times.

Mexico DF: While grappling with rapid population growth and increasing car ownership, Mexico City’s Historic District finds ways to improve people’s lives with sustainable urban development projects, including creating car-free streets and a “green wall” to recover public space.

Curitiba: Curitiba, Brazil, is the birthplace of bus rapid transit, the high-capacity urban public transportation system developed under the leadership of former city mayor Jaime Lerner. The ensuing transit-oriented development (TOD) underscored the importance of organizing urban areas around transport corridors and led Curitiba to be hallmarked as the most successful example of TOD.